News

Dr William Wynne Willson

Appreciation, May 2010

Since publication of the 2010 Journal, the Society has learned the sad news of the death of founder member William Wynne Willson, following a long illness bravely borne. He was 77. Dr William Wynne Willson, who first discovered the music of Lennox Berkeley as a young pianist at school, was the designer of the Society's logo and of its letterhead, the creator of its first website and publisher of a number of Berkeley Society music editions and postcards. His own website, www.musicwww.co.uk, offering free downloads of a long list of sheet music for piano, survives as a memorial of his dedication to music. The 2011 Journal will contain an obituary. Meanwhile the Society offers its condolences to William's widow Jane, and his family.

Berkeley, Britten and Auden at the Royal Academy of Music

June 2010

Once again, the Lennox Berkeley Society is collaborating with the Royal Academy of Music for what will be a wonderful event on Sunday, October 31st. Berkeley, Britten and Auden will celebrate two unique English composers, and the poet who inspired them. At 4pm, an hour-long song recital will be given by a trio of exciting young singers, including the critically acclaimed mezzo-soprano Katie Bray, who appeared so triumphantly at last year's event.

The concert will be preceded, at 2.30pm, by a panel discussion on Auden and the art song — for which we'll be welcoming to the Academy perhaps the most celebrated of all accompanists, Graham Johnson, and the writer Peter Parker, author of a magisterial biography of Christopher Isherwood. I'll be chairing the event — which will be followed by a pre-concert Franco-Cornish afternoon tea, for which donations will be invited. After the recital there will be a chance to meet the artists and friends over a glass of wine.

The event is generously supported by Mr Noriyuki Ida in memory of his daughter Kumiko, who was an enthusiastic proponent of Lennox's music, and a dedicated committee member.

I hope you'll be able to join us and ensure the David Josefowitz Hall is filled once again.

Petroc Trelawny, Chairman

The New Journal

May 2010

The Society’s eye-catching Journal for 2010 is now out. On the front cover is a photo of a painting of Lennox Berkeley as a student of Nadia Boulanger in Paris in 1926. Inside are 36 pages of articles about the Society’s activities over the past year.

These include the Englishman in Paris concert at the Royal Academy of Music last November, together with photographs of one of the young artists involved, and of the sponsors, the Ida family of Japan, with Lady Berkeley and Chairman Petroc Trelawny.

There’s also an impressive list, compiled by co-founder Kathleen Walker, of Berkeley performances and new Berkeley recordings in 2009, and a report of the first Berkeley Award for Guitar.

Lady Berkeley talks to one of her late husband’s composition pupils, Eithne Herbage, about life with a composer. And another former student, the composer Adam Pounds, writes about his memories of lessons with Berkeley at home in Little Venice.

Co-founder Jim Nicol recalls the beginnings of the Society, and Tony Scotland finds some interesting composers and musicians in Berkeley’s family tree, including a young Scots nobleman who made music with the Mozarts in Naples in 1770.

You can obtain a copy of the Journal by joining the Society — for only £15 a year. Just click here.